Joseph "Joe" Hollett(July 23, 1924 - January 11, 2013)

Joseph "Joe" Hollett

July 23, 1924 ~ January 11, 2013

SALINAS - Joseph "Joe" Hollett, 88, passed away Friday, January 11, 2013 in Walnut Creek, CA after a short battle with colon cancer. His daughter, Mona Magana, was at his bedside when he passed. He was born July 23, 1924 in Oakland, CA.

Joe was raised in Waterford, CA. He graduated from Oakdale High School. He worked most of his life as a jeweler in Salinas at Andrus Jewelers, where he managed the store in Sherwood Garden for over 40 years, with Sally Mendoza as his assistant. He retired in 2005.

Joe married the love of his life, Jeanne. They met in Salinas at the First Awakenings Bar and Grill in 1955 and married on New Year's Eve, three months after they met. He was a proud member of the Kiwani's Club and the Elks Lodge and loved and cherished his 35 years as an Elk, serving many years as a Tiler. Joe loved playing cards with the boys at the Elks Lodge in Salinas, which he did for many years. His other hobbies included shooting pool, and watching movies, especially war movies and westerns.

He had breakfast nearly every morning with his good buddies: Bill, Jack, Harley and Indian Joe at the Black Bear Diner in Salinas. He enjoyed having lunch on Saturdays with his caregiver, Maryanne Deering and occasional dinners with her husband, David Deering. He also attended a weekly "Koffee Klatch" with Don Stoffey and about 12 other members of the group at various restaurants and member's homes. He was a very devout Catholic, and attended Mass at the neighborhood Catholic church each Sunday.

He liked his cars and always drove a Cadillac and later acquired a vintage Mercedes-Benz. In his younger years, he rode a Harley and would take frequent trips to visit his cousin, Sonny in Berkeley, CA.

He was preceded in death by his father, Herschel; mother, Cecilia; wife, Jeanne; son, David Price; Uncle Ralph and Auntie Annie Welsh.

Joe is survived by his daughter, Mona Magana and son-in-law, Mike of Walnut Creek; grandchildren, Michelle Magana of Walnut Creek, Mitch Magana of Oakdale, Tammy Magana of Oakdale, Kandi Dilley of Ogden, UT, Kristi Neilsen of Sandy, UT; and several great grandchildren.

A Funeral Service will be held Wednesday, January 23, 2013 at 11:30 a.m. at Struve and Laporte Chapel, 41 W. San Luis Street, Salinas, CA 93901. Burial will be at Garden of Memories Cemetery. Funeral arrangements are by Struve and Laporte Funeral Home. To offer online condolences visit: www.struveandlaporte.com.